College football returns for South Carolina fans in late August, but Clemson and the South Carolina Gamecocks will wait until September 5 to play their first games of the 2026 season. The state’s first Division I action begins Thursday, August 27, when three FCS programs take the field.
For FBS fans, Saturday, September 5 is the key date. Coastal Carolina opens at West Virginia at noon ET, South Carolina hosts Kent State at 12:45 p.m. ET, and Clemson visits LSU for a 7:30 p.m. ET prime-time matchup.
South Carolina college football 2026 opening games
South Carolina has nine Division I football programs — three in the FBS and six in the FCS. Here is when each begins its 2026 season:
- Charleston Southern: Aug. 27 at Lindenwood — 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- Furman: Aug. 27 vs. Anderson (SC) — 7 p.m. ET
- Presbyterian: Aug. 27 vs. Virginia-Wise — 7 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- The Citadel: Aug. 29 at Wofford — 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- South Carolina State: Aug. 29 vs. Savannah State — 6 p.m. ET
- Wofford: Aug. 29 vs. The Citadel — 6 p.m. ET, ESPN+
- Coastal Carolina: Sept. 5 at West Virginia — noon ET, TNT
- South Carolina: Sept. 5 vs. Kent State — 12:45 p.m. ET, SEC Network
- Clemson: Sept. 5 at LSU — 7:30 p.m. ET, ABC
That creates an important distinction: South Carolina’s first Division I games are August 27, while all three of the state’s FBS teams open September 5.
Clemson opens at LSU in prime time
Clemson faces the highest-profile opening assignment among the state’s programs. The Tigers travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU on September 5, with kickoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on ABC.
The matchup provides an immediate test after Clemson finished 7-6 in 2025 and ended its season with a Pinstripe Bowl loss to Penn State. Despite that difficult year, the Tigers were picked fourth in the ACC preseason outlook and received seven first-place votes.
Clemson’s official 2026 football schedule has Georgia Southern visiting on September 12 before North Carolina arrives September 19. College football fans can also revisit the 2025–26 College Football Playoff bracket and key dates for context on the postseason that preceded the new campaign.
South Carolina starts at home against Kent State
South Carolina opens at Williams-Brice Stadium against Kent State on September 5 at 12:45 p.m. ET on SEC Network.
The Gamecocks are looking for a rebound after finishing 4-8 overall and 1-7 in SEC play last season. They were projected to finish 11th in the SEC preseason media poll.
South Carolina begins with three consecutive home games. Towson visits September 12, followed by Mississippi State on September 19 for the Gamecocks’ SEC opener.
The SEC’s move to a nine-game conference schedule also means South Carolina has three nonconference opponents in 2026: Kent State, Towson and Clemson.
Coastal Carolina opens at West Virginia
Coastal Carolina begins its season at West Virginia at noon ET on September 5. The Chanticleers finished 6-7 overall and 5-3 in Sun Belt play last season but ended the year on a four-game losing streak, including an Independence Bowl loss to Louisiana Tech.
The road opener in Morgantown gives Coastal an early opportunity to establish a different direction before moving deeper into its 2026 schedule.
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FCS teams bring football back first
Charleston Southern, Furman and Presbyterian officially get the state’s Division I season underway August 27. Charleston Southern travels to Lindenwood, while Furman hosts Anderson (SC) and Presbyterian hosts Virginia-Wise.
On August 29, The Citadel visits Wofford in an in-state matchup, while South Carolina State hosts Savannah State. South Carolina State enters the season with high expectations after being picked to win the MEAC.
Clemson and South Carolina meet November 28
The September openers begin separate seasons that eventually bring Clemson and South Carolina together. The Gamecocks travel to Memorial Stadium to face Clemson on Saturday, November 28. The kickoff time has not yet been announced.
The rivalry again comes on the final weekend of the regular season. Clemson’s current official schedule lists the South Carolina game as the Tigers’ regular-season finale.
Before that rivalry arrives, September 5 provides a full day for the state’s FBS fans: Coastal Carolina at noon, South Carolina at 12:45 p.m. and Clemson at 7:30 p.m. Fans looking back at how last season finished can see the 2025–26 College Football Playoff schedule and results, including the postseason timeline and major results.
For anyone asking when college football is back in South Carolina, the answer depends on the team: Division I action starts August 27, while Clemson, South Carolina and Coastal Carolina all begin their seasons September 5.
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